As the last of the failed students were escorted away, the massive hall finally fell silent.
Only one hundred remained.
They stood with their heads held high, faint smiles lingering on their faces. Pride swelled within them.
They had made it.
Every sacrifice, every sleepless night, every moment of training had brought them here.
For a brief moment, their happiness knew no bounds.
Then
A cold, sharp voice cut through the air.
"Don't let this victory go to your heads."
Vega stood before them, her gaze unwavering.
"You have won only a battle," she continued flatly. "Not the war."
The smiles froze.
"Remain alert. Stay focused. What awaits you inside Aurelian will be far harsher than anything you have faced so far."
Her words settled heavily over the group.
Reality began to sink in.
If the entrance examination alone had been this brutal…
What awaited them beyond those gates?
A shiver ran through several students.
Some steadied their breathing, silently reassuring themselves.
It's fine.
I can do this.
I will make my family proud.
Aric merely scoffed inwardly.
Nothing can stop me. Not even Aurelian.
Neva and Mira remained composed, their resolve unshaken.
Rey grinned.
This is going to be fun.
Moriko showed no sign of tension. She had prepared for this moment.
Jay listened silently.
She's deliberately applying pressure, he thought.
Testing who breaks first.
Vega allowed the silence to linger before speaking again.
"The third trial is now complete."
She paused.
"From this moment onward, you are officially accepted as students of Aurelian High."
A subtle shift passed through the group.
They had crossed the line.
They were no longer candidates.
They were students.
"Follow me."
Without hesitation, the hundred students began moving.
Beyond the Gate
After several minutes of walking, they reached the gates of Aurelian once again.
But this time, they weren't standing before them as contenders.
They were standing before them as students.
Vega stepped forward and placed her palm against the security panel.
Beep.
A green light illuminated the scanner.
With a deep mechanical rumble, the massive gates began to open.
Vega glanced back at the students.
"Welcome to Aurelian High School."
The gates opened completely.
And what lay beyond them stole the students' breath.
A road stretched ahead for nearly two kilometers, leading toward the heart of Aurelian.
On either side were vast gardens filled with vibrant flowers, carefully cultivated plants, and towering trees that formed what looked like a miniature forest.
Everything was immaculate.
Not a single leaf seemed out of place.
The sheer scale and beauty of the campus left many students speechless.
Eyes widened.
Murmurs spread.
Even some of the more composed students couldn't hide their amazement.
Jay slowly scanned the surroundings.
Beautiful.
That was the only word that came to mind.
As the students stood captivated—
Clap!
The sharp sound echoed through the area.
Everyone turned.
Vega stood several meters ahead, her expression unchanged.
"Move."
The spell broke.
The students quickly composed themselves and continued walking.
Rey leaned toward the student beside him.
"Hey… what's her problem? Can't she appreciate beauty?"
Lukas glanced at Vega before lowering his voice.
"Maybe… she's colorblind?"
Rey nodded solemnly.
"Oh. What a poor soul."
He paused.
"How will she ever witness my greatness?"
Lukas stared at him.
"…What?"
"N—nothing."
Soon, three buses came into view.
Vega gestured toward them.
"Board."
The students quickly climbed aboard.
The buses moved through the enormous campus, eventually stopping before a collection of towering buildings.
The architecture was unlike anything they had seen before.
Ancient in appearance, yet perfectly maintained.
Majestic.
Refined.
Every structure seemed to carry decades of history within its walls.
Vega gestured toward the buildings.
"These are your temporary dormitories."
The students looked around curiously.
"You will stay here tonight. Collect your key cards from the reception desk."
She paused.
"Tomorrow morning, at exactly eight, your uniforms will be delivered to your rooms."
Another pause.
"They have been tailored to your measurements."
Her eyes swept across the students.
"Wear them."
With that, Vega turned and walked away.
The students slowly dispersed, entering the dormitories one by one.
Jay remained behind.
His eyes moved across the surroundings.
The buildings.
The roads.
The entrances.
The distances between structures.
He memorized everything.
Three main entrances…
Security cameras on the eastern side…
The dormitories are separated from the central building…
He continued observing.
A soft, familiar voice suddenly interrupted his thoughts.
"Hello there."
Jay turned.
A girl with golden hair and matching golden eyes stood nearby.
"Lost in thought again?"
Jay stared at her for a moment.
"Hello."
Mira studied his face.
There was almost no emotion in his expression.
For a moment, she wondered what he was thinking.
But she didn't press.
Instead, she began walking.
Jay followed.
They walked side by side in silence.
After a while, Mira spoke.
"So… how are you feeling?"
Jay glanced at her.
"As usual."
Mira blinked.
"Not happy?"
Jay stopped.
The word lingered in his mind.
'Happy…'
What was happiness?
Fulfilling a desire?
Achieving a goal?
Living alongside people you cared about?
His thoughts continued.
Then what are my desires?
What are my goals?
Who do I care about?
For a moment, his mind went completely silent.
A memory surfaced.
A man stood before him.
His face hidden behind a mask.
His voice cold and emotionless.
"In this world, nothing will make you happy."
The memory sharpened.
"Your purpose is singular."
A pause.
"Complete the mission."
Jay's eyes lost focus.
He was no longer standing on the road.
He was somewhere else.
Somewhere buried deep inside his memories.
Then
A hand waved in front of his face.
Jay's instincts reacted before his mind could.
He stepped back and caught the wrist.
Mira froze.
Her eyes widened.
"Ow… you're hurting me."
Jay immediately released her.
His expression changed slightly.
"…Sorry."
Mira rubbed her wrist.
"That was quite a reaction."
Jay remained silent.
Mira smiled softly.
"No, it's my fault. You were spacing out again, so I tried to get your attention."
She paused.
"Oh…"
Her expression brightened.
"I forgot to introduce myself properly."
She extended a hand.
"I'm Mira."
Jay looked at her hand.
Then at her.
'So that's her name.'
"Jay."
Mira smiled.
"Nice to meet you, Jay."
She waved before turning toward her dormitory.
"See you tomorrow."
Jay watched her disappear inside.
Then he turned and headed toward his own dorm.
After collecting his key card, he entered his room and closed the door behind him.
Silence.
Jay walked toward the bed and sat down.
Then he slowly leaned back.
His eyes stared at the ceiling.
"What a long day."